A powered touch screen input device is perpetually self-powered and free of any mechanical connection to the touch screen itself. The input device includes at least one photovoltaic cell supported thereon and disposed to receive light from the display screen associated with the touch screen device. The photovoltaic cell is connected to the electronic signaling circuit disposed within the input device. The input device comprises a stylus having a proximal tip connected to the electronic signaling circuit to generate or receive actinic radiation and interact with the touch screen device. A bezel extends about the barrel to enclose the photovoltaic cells and direct light from the display screen to the cells. Alternatively, RF energy may be transmitted to an antenna in the input device and rectified to drive the electronic signaling circuit.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. In a powered input device for a touch screen system and display screen that includes an electronic signaling circuit in the input device, the improvement comprising: means for transmitting RF energy to the vicinity of said touch screen system; means in said input device for receiving said RF energy and converting the received RF energy to a power signal; means for connecting said power signal to said electronic signaling circuit; said input device being free of any mechanical connection to said touch screen system.
2. The improved powered input device of claim 1 , wherein said means for transmitting RF energy includes an antenna disposed proximate to said touch screen system.
3. The improved powered input device of claim 2 , wherein said antenna comprises a coil that circumscribes the periphery of said touch screen system.
4. The improved powered input device of claim 2 , wherein said means for receiving said RF energy includes a receiver antenna coil disposed in said input device.
5. The improved powered input device of claim 4 , further including capacitor means connected to said receiver antenna coil to tune said receiver antenna coil to the frequency of said transmitted RF energy.
6. The improved powered input device of claim 5 , further including rectifier means connected to said receiver antenna coil to rectify and smooth the output of said antenna receiver coil and generate said power signal.
7. In a powered input device for a touch screen system and display screen that includes an electronic signaling circuit in the input device, the improvement comprising: means for transmitting RF energy to the vicinity of said touch screen system; means in said input device for receiving said RF energy and converting the received RF energy to a power signal; means for connecting said power signal to drive said electronic signaling circuit; said input device being free of any electrical connection to said touch screen system, said means for transmitting including an antenna disposed at the periphery of said touch screen system.
8. The improved powered input device of claim 7 , wherein said antenna includes an antenna coil.
9. The improved powered input device of claim 8 , wherein said antenna coil circumscribes the periphery of said touch screen system.
10. The improved powered input device of claim 7 , wherein said antenna extends from said periphery of said touch screen system.
11. In a powered input device for a touch screen system and display screen that includes an electronic signaling circuit in the input device, the improvement comprising: means for transmitting RF energy to the vicinity of said touch screen system; means in said input device for receiving said RF energy and converting the received RF energy to a power signal; means for connecting said power signal to drive said electronic signaling circuit; said input device being free of any electrical connection to said touch screen system, said means for transmitting including an antenna disposed at a location external to said touch screen system.
12. In a powered input device for a touch screen system and display screen that includes an electronic signaling circuit in the input device, the improvement comprising: means for transmitting RF energy to the vicinity of said touch screen system; means in a said input device for receiving said RF energy and converting the received RF energy to a first power signal; means for connecting said power signal to said electronic signaling circuit; at least one photovoltaic cell supported by said powered input device, said at least one photovoltaic cell generating a second power signal to power said electronic signaling circuit; said first and second power signals connected to power said electronic signaling circuit.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 15, 2000
March 2, 2004
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.